Halloween Safety Tips for Kids and Parents

Parents, it's that time again. Halloween is upon us and the kids are getting geared up to go trick or treating. But for us it goes a little deeper than just getting candy.

Halloween can be a stressful time for any parent. With candy being passed out, kids running off on their own and always that unpleasant element out there, we have to be on alert more than ever.

That's why I've put together a simple rule list that you can use to make sure you kids have the safest Halloween ever.

Rules for trick-or-treating.

Here are a few tips that should be followed by all children when they are trick-or-treating on Halloween.

First, always remember to walk and not run. Most accidents occur when kids trip and fall either over a crack in the cement or another child.

All kids should stay on the sidewalk and not walk in the street. With the different costume kids are wearing it is sometimes hard for a driver to see a kid once they've run into the street. This is especially true when it is dark outside and streetlights are not available. To keep this from happening stay on the sidewalk and a way from the curb.

If kids are trick-or-treating they should stay in familiar neighborhoods. Not only is this a safety precaution, but it allows the kid some protection and a familiar face if anything were to happen.

Only go to houses that are well lit. It is very dangerous to approach any house that is completely dark. There have been instances where children have been abducted or pulled into a dark house and no one could see the action taking place.

Rules For Parents

Parents should make sure their kid has an option or avenue to reach them. Kids should either have change in their pocket to use a pay phone, cell phone on their person or a cell phone on the chaperone or one of their friends. This will make sure that if anything occurs they can call home immediately.

All young children should be accompanied by an adult. It would seem this will go without saying, but there are parents who don't check to make sure that there is a chaperone for a group of kids going trick-or-treating. Although you may think your child to be responsible, is better to be safe than sorry. If you can not find the chaperone for your child, then you should go and follow them in your car to make sure they're safe.

Give your child a detailed map of where they are allowed to go. Show your kid the boundaries of the neighborhood they're allowed to trick-or-treat in. This includes letting them know houses that you consider not safe. Your child should have a clear map of where they're going, and also an expectation of when they should be home.

Use these rules to help ensure your child has a safe but fun Halloween.